“They’ve won more games, scored more goals and conceded less than Liverpool”

You couldn’t have scripted it any better for Liverpool. They were playing well and wiping the floor with teams.

But when the pressure’s on, they’ve crumbled. Even against Norwich they were hanging on.

But the Palace game was something else. You’re 3-0 up and you’re trying to win by seven or eight. It’s naive and it’s disrespectful to Palace.

Rodgers said he had a defensive substitution ready at 3-2. But that’s too late. Close it down and win the game. Don’t worry about goal difference. It’s Sunday League stuff.

City’s game against Aston Villa the other night would have been totally different if Liverpool had beaten Palace.

That crowd would have been much, much more nervous if City had had to win.But they only needed a draw and did their job professionally.

It’s not over. But if they wanted to pick a team to play at home on the last day of the season to win the title, West Ham would have been up there.

They’ve got nothing to play for, and I don’t care what anyone says, players have their holidays booked and just don’t want to get injured in that situation.

You can say they might be dangerous from set plays, but how many of those will they get at the Etihad? They don’t have pace on the break to hurt City either, and they were absolutely thrashed by them in the League Cup. I saw a stat the other day that said City have only been top for 11 days this season. That’s amazing, but it’s all about the timing of games as well.

If you just happen to be top before an international break you’re there for two weeks. You can’t argue with City’s record.

They’ve won more games, scored more goals and conceded less than Liverpool.

So if they see it through they deserve to win it.

But if they want to take the next step they need to win the Champions League next year. I think they can do it, too. You can’t tell me Atletico Madrid are any better than City, and they’re in the final.

Player for player they certainly aren’t.

City have the best midfielder in the world in Toure, one of the best strikers in the world in Sergio Aguero, one of the best defenders in Vincent Kompany, and the England No.1 in goal.

The only place they are a bit weak is at the back. I think they need a new centre half next season. Apart from that it’s a strong squad.

If Liverpool do miss out, you wonder what will happen to that team. Gerrard will be a year older, and I’d be shocked if Suarez stays.

I’ve seen it so many times. A player says he’s happy but disappears to a big tournament and never comes back.

This might be the closest Gerrard and Suarez ever get to winning the league title.